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One sample of prunes also contained maggots, and a second one was rather badly attacked
by yeasts and therefore reported as inferior.
A so-called Banana Curd was quite a satisfactory preparation, but theoretically it
contravened the Preserves Order because any fruit curd must contain either orange or lemon
oil and these ruin the flavour of banana curd
Some salad cream was stale and unfit for consumption,, The oil at the surface of the
jar had a harsh taste, and the free fatty acids, calculated as oleic acid, on the fat at the
top of the jar was 15 per cent whilst the oil in the lower portion contained 13.2 per cent
of free fatty acids.
Two samples of vinegar were deficient in acetic acid. One contained only 2 per cent
and the other 3.6 per cento Vinegar must contain not less than 4 per cent of acetic acid.
A sample of Non-Brewed Condiment contained only 3.7 per cent of acetic acid. This must
also contain not less than 4 per cent of acetic acid and was therefore 7.5 per cent deficient.
A further sample, submitted as Vinegar, consisted of artificial vinegar which had
been matured in a wine or genuine cask.
The labels of a Non-alcoholic Ginger Wine and a Non-alcoholic Orange Wine were considered
incorrect in view of the High Court decision that there is no such thing as a nonbrewed
vinegar. The term "Non alcoholic Wine" must similarly be a contradiction in terms.
This latter description is no longer included in the Soft Drinks Order and the products must
therefore be called by some other name. If, however, the manufacturing industry can produce
evidence that the term "Non-alcoholic Wine" was used before the introduction of the
Merchandise Marks Act the position will become different. The situation is anomalous
because the High Court would here appear to have overruled Parliament inasmuch as the
Preservatives, etc. in Pood Regulations which had been approved by Parliament allow for the
presence of preservative in "non-alcoholic wines".
A complaint was received that some ground almonds possessed a bitter flavour, Ground
almonds become rancid fairly quickly and the oil extracted from these almonds was found to
contain 2.4 per cent of free fatty acids. The product was probably satisfactory when
delivered by the wholesaler to the retailer, but if it had been in the shop for some time
the rancidity would have developed in the shop.
Some Marjoram was reported as adulterated as it contained not less than 15 per cent of
cistus leaf.
A sample labelled "Flake Tapioca" was lump tapioca and should not be sold as Flake
Tapioca,, Another of Flaked Rice was received owing to a complaint that it was dirty in
appearance. Apart from being dirty it contained 26. 2 per cent of powder and 0.2 per cent
of foreign mineral matter so that the complaint was fully justified. Some sago contained a
soft foreign body which was thought to be mouse excrement, although it did not have the
appearance of normal mouse excrement.
A sample of whisky was reported as inferior as it contained only 63.9 per cent of proof
spirit and another of Rum contained only 63.4 per cent of proof spirit. The Food and Drugs
Act requires spirits to be not less than 65° Proof,
Confectionery labelled "Butter Snips" contained only 3.3 per cent of butter fat. In
accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Food and confectionery manufacturers
butter toffees must contain not less than 4 per cent of butter fat.
Some chocolate toffees were examined as they were thought to have made children sick.
The sweets were wrapped with paper with a loose film of copper alloy leaf, and the copper
and lead calculated on the paper were 4 per cent and 0.3 per cent respectively. Your
analyst considers that any metallic wrappers covering a sweet must be such that it cannot
badly contaminate either the sweets or the fingers of the consumer,
Complaints were received about three samples of milk. Whilst one was of poor quality
the freezing point was genuine and all three samples were reported as satisfactory. There